Bruce Belisle vapes at The Mod House Vapor Emporium on River Street in Milford, Conn. The Ansonia Board of Aldermen decidede not to include vaping in a ban prohibiting smoking and chewing tobacco products in the city’s parks, recreational sites and athletic fields. less

Bruce Belisle vapes at The Mod House Vapor Emporium on River Street in Milford, Conn. The Ansonia Board of Aldermen decidede not to include vaping in a ban prohibiting smoking and chewing tobacco products in ... more

E-Stop E-Cigs co-owner Aidan Belmont vapes while at the shop on Post Road in Milford, Conn. The Ansonia Board of Aldermen decidede not to include vaping in a ban prohibiting smoking and chewing tobacco products in the city’s parks, recreational sites and athletic fields. less

E-Stop E-Cigs co-owner Aidan Belmont vapes while at the shop on Post Road in Milford, Conn. The Ansonia Board of Aldermen decidede not to include vaping in a ban prohibiting smoking and chewing tobacco products ... more

ANSONIA — It may take a village to raise a child but it took only two former smokers to defeat the proposed city ban on vaping this week.

“I think this is fantastic,” said Lynne Schwarzenberg, who with Tommie Howell of Hubbell Avenue, convinced the Board of Aldermen not to include vaping in a ban prohibiting smoking and chewing tobacco products in the city’s parks, recreational sites and athletic fields.

Signs advising that tobacco smoking or chewing is a violation and carries a $50 penalty fine will be posted.

“We were told we had no chance of convincing the board of eliminating vaping from the ban,” Schwarzenberg said. “That this was a done deal. People who run vaping stores told us ‘don’t even bother going.”

Now they believe the board’s action will help legitimize vaping.

Ansonia’s decision aside, other Connecticut municipalities have added vaping to their bans on smoking at parks and recreational areas.

Last year, the Milford Park, Beach and Recreation commission banned vaping and tobacco products from all its facilities, which include beaches, skate parks, ballfields, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, and hiking and walking trails. A person found in violation is ordered to leave and could be denied future access.

Like many municipal bans, however, there are designated tobacco or vaping sites away from the public. In Milford, those places are in parking lots.

New Haven prohibits tobacco products and vaping in all government buildings, ball fields, playgrounds, parks and fields. The prohibition carries a warning for the first offense and a $50 fine for future offenses.

As of Oct. 1, the state Legislature banned vaping in all indoor facilities where smoking is prohibited.

“Ansonia’s elected leaders were wise to separate the two actions,” he said. “It is our hope that if similar ordinances are filed in other Connecticut cities, elected officials will take inspiration from Ansonia and decline to treat ‘vaping'’the same way as ‘smoking.’ ”

Health debate

Vaping is a popular alternative to tobacco smoking and is often used by people seeking to quit. The devices, first appearing in 2003, look like pens, electronic toothbrushes and even flasks. Each uses battery-power to heat a liquid, often flavored to taste like breakfast foods, desserts and candy, and carrying nicotine levels from zero to 18 milligrams.

The user then inhales before exhaling a cloud filled with water vapor.

There is debate over just how harmful that vapor is.

Users claim it’s almost all vapor, while Americans for Non-Smokers’ Rights claim it contains particulates responsible for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

“As time goes by, research keeps growing and growing,” said Cynthia Hallett, a spokeman for the rights group.

As for Ansonia’s action, she called it “a shame.”

Others called it exemplary.

“Ansonia could have set a precedent, and in their wisdom decided not to,” said Al Hamon, a pharmacist educated at the University of Connecticut who owns UVape on Bridgeport Avenue in Milford.

“If it happened, other towns might have followed,” added Kurt Buckholtz, who runs the Mod House, an upscale bar where vaping juices rather than liquor are sold across from Milford’s City Hall.

Smoke versus water

The Ansonia ordinance was one of six that came before the Board of Alderman on March 8. Prior to the start of their normal monthly meeting, a public hearing was held. Only this ordinance sparked public comment.

Addressing the aldermen, Schwarzenberg said she quit smoking three years ago and has helped eight others shun cigarettes for vaping.

“I believe I helped save eight lives,” the former pack-and-a-half-a-day smoker said. “This is the most important innovation in public health since the discovery of antibiotics.”

When she sat down, Howell stood up and told the board how he was a three-pack-a-day smoker and hasn’t had a single cigarette since he started vaping three years ao.

“I was going to vote for the ban initially,” said Henri. “I was influenced by them.”

Vaccaro, who seconded Henri’s motion, agreed.

“The two people who spoke out did their homework and nailed it,” he said. “I had a change of heart after listening to the two speakers.”

“This is not the first time that the heartfelt stories of individual vapers have caused local policymakers to rethink their views,” Conley said. “Many vapers struggled to quit smoking for decades before finally managing to do so with a vapor product. These ex-smokers should not be ostracized or discouraged. Going forward, our hope is that more communities will recognize the clear distinction between ‘smoke’ and ‘vapor.’ ”

Hazy future

Still, Henri added the ban could be revisited.

“If problems arise down the road, we can amend the ordinance,” he said.